[ EDITORIAL ]

Giving Thanks: Newspaper With a Heart

Published: Thursday, November 22, 2012 at 12:56 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, November 22, 2012 at 12:56 a.m.

Through tradition of nation, family and self, Americans have various ways of acting on the meaning of the root words for the holiday Thanksgiving. They pray, gather and speak with family members, speak directly with friends and others of significance in their lives, and volunteer with or donate to service groups, churches and charities.

In Polk County, many residents donate to The Ledger's Newspaper with a Heart charity program, which is starting its 44th year.

The program allows readers to make life-changing improvements for neighbors and residents across Polk County who have come to a point of crisis. Their incomes may have been severed because of substantial illness, injury or misfortune.

EFFICIENT, LOCAL SYSTEM

Readers appreciate the local process that decides how and on whom donation receipts will be spent, and the fact that no overhead drains even a single bit of the money collected:

■ Sunday, Newspaper with a Heart opened for the holiday season with a $2,000 Ledger contribution.

■ The fund is directed by an advisory committee with a Social Security disability specialist and representatives from local social-service agencies. Among the agencies working on the screening and approval process are the Center for Independent Living, Heartland for Children, Polk County Social Services, The Salvation Army and United Way. The Ledger and Hampton Disability Services also take part.

■ The Ledger and United Way of Central Florida cover the administrative costs. Every dollar contributed is used to assist people in need. CPS Investment Advisors and SunTrust Banks provide accounting assistance.

■ No money goes directly to the people helped. Instead, money is paid to landlords, mortgage holders, utilities and other creditors.

This approach has proved popular over the years. Since 2007, annual donations have exceeded $200,000. Since 2010, annual donations have exceeded $300,000.

EFFECTIVE

Over the past 43 years, Newspaper with a Heart has demonstrated its effectiveness by distributing more than $3.3 million.

To contribute (tax deductible):

■ Consider the easy online method at www.theledger.com/heartdonation.

■ Use the traditional way — mail a check to Newspaper with a Heart, P.O. Box 408, Lakeland, FL 33802.

Those wishing to apply for help from the program should dial 211 on any telephone in Polk County to reach a specialist with United Way of Central Florida's Information and Referral service.

ACCOUNTABLE

During the holidays and into the new year, The Ledger will chronicle many people who have been helped by Newspaper with a Heart. Nonetheless, those accounts will report on but a sliver of the good accomplished through reader generosity.

Sunday, the first article of the season, by The Ledger's Elvia Malagon, told about the efforts of Romero Hall, 25, of Bartow, to raise funding for surgery to improve his eyesight so he can meet military standards and join the U.S. Army.

Hall seeks corrective surgery called the Visian ICL procedure, through the TLC Laser Eye Center in Tampa, with a cost of $10,000.

Hall spoke about the funding problem and his goal with his surgeon, the clinic and a lens company. They reduced the cost to $4,000.

After referral to Newspaper with a Heart, the program agreed to pay for the remaining expenses. Surgery is scheduled for Dec. 5.

"I feel like it's the best time. I've been trying to get in for over a year," Hall said. "It's finally starting to come together."

The need for follow-up testing after a June kidney transplant at Tampa General Hospital makes reliable transportation essential for Gloria Johnson, 54, of Lakeland.

The Ledger's Gary White reported in an article Monday that Johnson's 2001 Jeep Cherokee was not in condition to deliver her consistently to her vital follow-up tests. Newspaper with a Heart paid for repairs so Johnson can reach her medical appointments.

On this day of Thanksgiving, a donation to Newspaper with a Heart might provide a good way — or an additional way — to give thanks, and by so doing help people with critical needs.

<p>Through tradition of nation, family and self, Americans have various ways of acting on the meaning of the root words for the holiday Thanksgiving. They pray, gather and speak with family members, speak directly with friends and others of significance in their lives, and volunteer with or donate to service groups, churches and charities.</p><p>In Polk County, many residents donate to The Ledger's Newspaper with a Heart charity program, which is starting its 44th year.</p><p>The program allows readers to make life-changing improvements for neighbors and residents across Polk County who have come to a point of crisis. Their incomes may have been severed because of substantial illness, injury or misfortune.</p><p> </p><p><b>EFFICIENT, LOCAL SYSTEM</b></p><p>Readers appreciate the local process that decides how and on whom donation receipts will be spent, and the fact that no overhead drains even a single bit of the money collected:</p><p>■ Sunday, Newspaper with a Heart opened for the holiday season with a $2,000 Ledger contribution.</p><p>■ The fund is directed by an advisory committee with a Social Security disability specialist and representatives from local social-service agencies. Among the agencies working on the screening and approval process are the Center for Independent Living, Heartland for Children, Polk County Social Services, The Salvation Army and United Way. The Ledger and Hampton Disability Services also take part.</p><p>■ The Ledger and United Way of Central Florida cover the administrative costs. Every dollar contributed is used to assist people in need. CPS Investment Advisors and SunTrust Banks provide accounting assistance.</p><p>■ No money goes directly to the people helped. Instead, money is paid to landlords, mortgage holders, utilities and other creditors.</p><p>This approach has proved popular over the years. Since 2007, annual donations have exceeded $200,000. Since 2010, annual donations have exceeded $300,000.</p><p> </p><p><b>EFFECTIVE</b></p><p>Over the past 43 years, Newspaper with a Heart has demonstrated its effectiveness by distributing more than $3.3 million.</p><p>To contribute (tax deductible):</p><p>■ Consider the easy online method at www.theledger.com/heartdonation.</p><p>■ Use the traditional way — mail a check to Newspaper with a Heart, P.O. Box 408, Lakeland, FL 33802.</p><p>Those wishing to apply for help from the program should dial 211 on any telephone in Polk County to reach a specialist with United Way of Central Florida's Information and Referral service.</p><p> </p><p><b>ACCOUNTABLE</b></p><p>During the holidays and into the new year, The Ledger will chronicle many people who have been helped by Newspaper with a Heart. Nonetheless, those accounts will report on but a sliver of the good accomplished through reader generosity.</p><p>Sunday, the first article of the season, by The Ledger's Elvia Malagon, told about the efforts of Romero Hall, 25, of Bartow, to raise funding for surgery to improve his eyesight so he can meet military standards and join the U.S. Army.</p><p>Hall seeks corrective surgery called the Visian ICL procedure, through the TLC Laser Eye Center in Tampa, with a cost of $10,000.</p><p>Hall spoke about the funding problem and his goal with his surgeon, the clinic and a lens company. They reduced the cost to $4,000.</p><p>After referral to Newspaper with a Heart, the program agreed to pay for the remaining expenses. Surgery is scheduled for Dec. 5.</p><p>"I feel like it's the best time. I've been trying to get in for over a year," Hall said. "It's finally starting to come together."</p><p>The need for follow-up testing after a June kidney transplant at Tampa General Hospital makes reliable transportation essential for Gloria Johnson, 54, of Lakeland.</p><p>The Ledger's Gary White reported in an article Monday that Johnson's 2001 Jeep Cherokee was not in condition to deliver her consistently to her vital follow-up tests. Newspaper with a Heart paid for repairs so Johnson can reach her medical appointments.</p><p>On this day of Thanksgiving, a donation to Newspaper with a Heart might provide a good way — or an additional way — to give thanks, and by so doing help people with critical needs.</p>